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1985 Mr. Olympia - Winner Lee Haney

Belgium was one of the locations new to the Mr. Olympia event. On October 26th, 1985, the contest was held just there - at the Forest National Theatre in Brussels, Belgium. This was one of the many steps in expanding the sport outside US borders and letting people be part of the competition and see their idols in real life.

With the money prize being $100,000, the 1985 Mr. Olympia was not anymore a $1,000 gig. It was a prestigious contest that gathers the very best of bodybuilders around the world. With the rising star Lee Haney winning the previous year and guys like Albert Beckles, Mohamed Makkawy and Tom Platz looking for revenge, the world was about to see a new chapter in the Olympia era.

There were 24 competitors at the 1985 Mr. Olympia which was a new record. The main battle was between Lee Haney and Albert Beckles, which was a head to head competition for the 1st and 2nd place and the title of the Mr. Olympia 1985.

That did not stop Lee Haney from winning the contest his second year in a row and showing everyone that he is a true gift to the bodybuilding world. Lee weighed 256 pounds off season (118 kilograms) which was another factor beneficial to his dominance.

Lee's posing was great during the event - especially great for a big guy like him - because of the various posing styles that mimicked some of the moves of the legendary Frank Zane and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Lee Haney's career has started as early as the 1979 when he was a 'Teen Mr. America', however went to full steam with the 1985 Mr. Olympia title which gave him even more confidence and esteem to compete in a series of Grand Prix events.